This resource remains available under SCIE’s commitment to share knowledge and information but please be alert to changes in policy or practice since publication. This resource was last updated in December 2013. This piece of legislation has now been wholly replaced by new practice and guidance described in the Care Act 2014, which includes information on eligibility and assessment. Please refer to 'Care Act 2014' instead.

Fair access to care services (FACS): prioritising eligibility for care and support

Assessment - Personalisation and the assessment process: implications for practice

The purpose of a community care assessment is to identify and evaluate an individual’s
presenting needs and how these needs impose barriers to that person’s independence
and/or wellbeing. Information derived from an individual’s assessment should
be used to inform decisions on eligibility.

(‘Response to the first contact and assessment’, DH, 2010, para 78)

Simon’s story – good assessment the foundation of stability and
quality of life

Simon, aged 39, lives in the community. He needs considerable support because of
his learning difficulties and health problems. Assessments of Simon’s needs
produced a combination of family care with support from a third sector organisation.
Over the years his support has been reassessed to meet his changing needs. Careful
assessment has enabled Simon to have a good quality of life, to remain integral
to his family and to follow his interests in gardening, ecology and arts for the
past 15 years.

The section of the 2010 DH Guidance headed ‘Response to the first contact
and assessment’ outlines good practice when undertaking assessments. The guidance
makes it clear that assessing the needs of groups with particular conditions (e.g.
deaf-blind people) must be undertaken by staff with the necessary specialist expertise
in that area. Staff should:

work in partnership with individuals and their carers at all stages of the assessment
process, beginning with the assumption that people are best placed to judge their
own wellbeing, and should be provided with the information and support necessary
to participate as fully as possible in decisions relating to their welfare

explain how the assessment process for care and support works, advise on the likely
timescale and tell people and carers how they can track progress in the meantime

ensure that knowledge about the individual’s and carer’s health conditions,
health care needs and NHS support informs the assessment process

apply the principles of personalisation to:

maximise individuals’ and carers’ choices and control over their lives,
and prioritise the outcomes they value

recognise individuals’ and carers’ expert contributions to assessment

explore solutions that lie within the individual’s own network or via local
community resources

signpost to or provide information and advice on support from universal services,
other agencies and community resources.

Draw on the results of self-assessment to inform the assessment process.

Carry out capacity assessments where necessary, and Best Interests decision making
if individuals are assessed as lacking the mental capacity to make a particular
decision themselves.

Ensure that the scope of the assessment process is proportionate to the person’s
need and fit for purpose.

Collect sufficient evidence to make a sound judgement about eligibility within the
FACS bandings and criteria, agree outcomes, support the individual to identify and
manage risks, and address any safeguarding issues.

The Care Bill includes provision to establish national eligibility criteria for
adult care and support. This is to be achieved through regulations to be made under
a power in Clause 13. These will set a minimum threshold for people’s care
and support needs which must be met by local authorities in all areas. Local authorities
will not be able to restrict eligibility beyond this threshold, but if they wish
to do so they can meet other needs which are below the national threshold. The government
proposes to set the national threshold at a level equivalent to ‘substantial’
in the current system. This is the level currently operated by the vast majority
of local authorities.

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